Feb. 22 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2004 Remarks at a Dinner for the Nation’s Governors February 22, 2004 Good evening. Welcome to the White gether. We’ve taken vital steps to secure House. Laura and I are honored to host our homeland, and I want to thank the so many of our friends and new acquaint- Governors for their hard work. I’m going ances. The Nation’s Governors were the to continue to work with you to fulfill our guests at our first official state dinner al- solemn duty to protect the American peo- most 3 years ago today. It’s great to see ple. so many of those same Governors with us We share responsibility as well to en- tonight. It’s kind of like being with mem- hance the entrepreneurial spirit so that our bers of your family. Right, Jeb? [Laughter] economy continues to grow and people can I appreciate the fact that the Vice Presi- find work; work together to make sure dent is with us. I oftentimes say Dick Americans can gain affordable access to Cheney is the finest Vice President our health care; to make sure every child learns country has ever had. Mother always says, to read and write and add and subtract. ‘‘Wait a minute.’’ [Laughter] I want to We’ve made good progress. We’ll continue thank the former Governors who are in my to meet our obligations in future years. Cabinet, Tommy Thompson and John I’ve got great confidence in America be- Ashcroft, Tom Ridge, who is not with us cause I believe in the strength of the Amer- tonight, and the newest member of my ican people. I’ve got great confidence in Cabinet, Mike Leavitt. our Nation’s Governors because you rep- I want to welcome the Nation’s new resent your State’s highest ideals and you Governors, Barbour and Fletcher, Kernan, hold your people’s trust. Blanco, Walker, Tulafono, and It’s a pleasure to host you all here. And Schwarzenegger. [Laughter] Last time I now I’d like you all to join me in a toast was with Governor Schwarzenegger, it to the Governors of the United States. dawned on me that we have some things in common. We both married well. [Laugh- NOTE: The President spoke at 8:12 p.m. in ter] We both have trouble with the English the State Dining Room at the White House. language. [Laughter] We both have big bi- In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Jeb Bush ceps. [Laughter] Well, two out of the three. of Florida; Gov. Haley Barbour of Mis- [Laughter] sissippi; Gov. Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky; In the past 3 years, our country has faced Gov. Joseph E. Kernan of Indiana; Gov. some great challenges. We’re still at war. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana; The war on terror is a new kind of war Gov. Olene S. Walker of Utah; Gov. Togiola in which every American is threatened and Tulafono of American Samoa; and Gov. Ar- every level of government must work to- nold Schwarzenegger of California. Remarks to the National Governors Association Conference February 23, 2004 Well, that’s it? Okay. [Laughter] Always [Laughter] Laura and I really enjoyed that. love to get a short introduction. Hope you Thanks for coming. It was a lot of fun. all cleaned the room up after last night. Everybody seemed pretty well behaved. I 250 1 2005 11:38 Dec 19 2006 Jkt 201942 PO 00000 Frm 00250 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\201942A 009 201942A.